Baroness Masham ofIlton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the report of the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Estonia of January which stated that "as far as the Committee [on Elimination of Discrimination against Women] was concerned…abortion was not a part of women's reproductive rights". [HL6184]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:Legislation on abortion issues is a matter for individual countries.
As Parliament has decided that abortions may lawfully be carried out in England, Scotland and Wales in the circumstances specified in the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended), the Government consider that facilities for abortion treatment should be available. The Government also have a duty to see that the provisions of the Act are properly applied.
§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the report of the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Estonia of January which stated that repeat abortions could entail physical complications, psychological problems and infertility. [HL6185]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:The safety and psychological effects of abortion were considered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in its evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000). The college's report concludes that immediate complications are uncommon and that possible long-term effects, including breast cancer, infertility and psychological sequelae, are rare or unproven. However, as multiple repeat abortions are uncommon in this country, there are no reliable data which quantify physical and psychological sequelae including infertility.
§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have about links between abortion and physical or sexual abuse. [HL6187]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:We are not aware of any research which considers whether women who have suffered physical or sexual abuse and who subsequently become pregnant are more likely to seek to terminate that pregnancy.
In 2001. there were 10 abortions performed on residents of England and Wales under Section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, where sexual abuse was cited as a main medical condition.